Pizza Box

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a pizza box having a lower compartment and a cover hingedly connected to the lower compartment for movement between open and closed positions, and a vented panel that is positioned in overlying relation to the upwardly facing surface of the lower compartment. The vented panel includes several holes formed therethrough. When a pizza or other food item is placed upon the vented panel and the cover is closed, any steam emanating from the food item will dissipate at least partially through the holes, and any condensation resulting from the steam will be absorbed by the lower compartment&#39;s bottom, thereby minimizing any moisture from being absorbed by the food product.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to packaging for food articles, and more particularly, to boxes for containing pizza.

2. Background of Art

Boxes in which pizza is contained for delivery or take-out service are commonly square shaped set-up type boxes having a bottom compartment suitably sized to securely hold the circularly shaped pizza. When delivered or picked up by a customer at a pizza shop, the pizza will be hot in temperature having just been removed from an oven. When placed in the cardboard or paperboard box the heat from the bottom of the pizza is directly transferred to the bottom of the box's lower compartment. Depending on the temperature of the pizza and the length of time the pizza is in the box, the heat may cause steam to condense creating moisture that is then absorbed by the bottom of the pizza box. This moisture can then be absorbed back into the pizza and/or absorbed into a car seat or other object on which the pizza box may be set.

3. Objects And Advantages

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a pizza box that permits venting of the steam created by the contained, hot pizza.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the foregoing object and advantage, the present invention provides a vented pizza box. The pizza box generally comprises a lower compartment having a planar bottom surface and upstanding front and side walls, an upper lid that is hingedly connected to the lower compartment along their respective rear edges and that includes pivotally movable front and side walls adapted to be securely retained within and adjacent to the respectively positioned side and front walls of the lower compartment when the upper lid is closed relative to the lower compartment, and a planar vent panel that is connected along one edge to the edge of front wall of the lower compartment's front wall, wherein the vent panel includes a plurality of holes formed therethrough and is adapted for positioning in overlying relation to the upwardly facing planar surface of the lower compartment. When a pizza is placed upon the vent panel, the holes formed therethrough will, among other things, assist in dissipating the steam generated from the heated pizza when placed upon the box's surface and also preventing the bottom of the pizza from becoming moist through the absorption of the condensed steam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vented pizza box in its open position and fully assembled condition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vented pizza box in its open position and partially assembled condition

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a blank for forming a vented pizza box; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a blank for forming four vented pizza boxes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIG. 1 a pizza box, designated generally by reference numeral 10, comprising a lower compartment 12, a cover 14, and a vent panel 16 that is sized, shaped, and/or configured to overlay the upwardly facing surface of the lower compartment 12, and is, in its preferred embodiment, connected to the lower compartment. The inclusion of vent panel 16 in pizza box 10 provides a container for pizza (or other hot food product) that is effective at dissipating steam and minimizing condensation that may otherwise be absorbed by the pizza or other food product contained within box 10.

Lower compartment 12 is conventional insofar as it comprises a planar bottom 18 (with an upwardly facing surface), and upstanding rear, front and opposite side walls 20, 22, 24, and 26, respectively. Front wall 22 comprises a paperboard (or other suitable material) strip that is scored along its longitudinal axis at about its midpoint 28 so as to permit the material to fold over upon itself to provide for reinforced rigidity to the panel, and a terminal edge 30.

Cover 14 is also conventional insofar as it comprises a planar top 32 and down-standing front and opposing side walls 34, 36, and 38, respectively. The rear edge of planar top 32 is connected for hinged movement to the upper edge of rear wall 20 of lower compartment 12 such that cover 14 is movable between terminal open and closed positions relative to lower compartment 12. When in its closed position, side walls 36 and 38 tuck just inside the side walls 24 and 26, respectively, of lower compartment 12, and front wall 34 tucks inside the front wall 22 of lower compartment 12. A finger opening 40 is formed at the intersection of the front wall 34 and planar top 32 to permit a user to easily open the cover 14.

Vent panel 16 comprises a planar sheet of paperboard (or other suitable material) that includes a plurality of openings/holes 42 formed sporadically throughout. In its preferred embodiment, the front edge of vent panel 16 is attached to the terminal edge 30 of front wall 22 and is sized, shaped, and/or configured to overlay the upwardly facing surface of the planar bottom 18 of lower compartment 12. An upstanding flap 44 formed along the vent panel's rear edge is foldable into compressed and contacting relation to the inwardly facing surface of rear wall 20 of lower compartment 12 to provide reinforcement and secure positioning of the vent panel within lower compartment 12. As opposed to being connected to the terminal edge 30, vent panel 16 could be a separate element that is placed within lower compartment 16 prior to the placement of the pizza or other food item into the container.

When properly positioned within lower compartment 12, vent panel 16 provides the surface upon which a pizza (or other food item, such as a calzone for example) may be placed during transport from a restaurant to a consumer. The openings 42 permit steam emanating from the food item to dissipate and any condensation resulting from the steam to be predominantly absorbed by the bottom surface 18 of lower compartment 12, instead of being absorbed by vent panel 16 (i.e., the surface upon which the food item is placed). Thus, the use of vent panel 16 decreases the amount of condensed moisture the food product will absorb during transport and while the cover 14 is closed.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, box 10 can be manufactured in a blank of paperboard, designated generally by reference numeral 100 (FIG. 3), that includes contiguous sections of vent panel 16, followed by lower compartment 12 (the front edge of vent panel 16 being attached to the terminal edge of front wall 22 of lower compartment 12), and then upper compartment 14 (whose rear edge is attached to the upper edge of the rear wall 20 of lower compartment 12). A blank for forming a series of boxes 100 can also be formed .from one sheet of material as shown in FIG. 4 (FIG. 4 representing 4 boxes, it being understood that any number of boxes can be formed from a single sheet). In this arrangement, the adjacent side edges of lower compartments 12 and covers 14 are attached together in forming the unitary blank and each box 10 would be cut along those connected edges to separate each box from the others in the blank. 

What is claimed is: 1) A pizza box, comprising: a) a lower compartment having a planar, upwardly facing bottom surface; b) a cover hingedly connected to said lower compartment and movable relative to said lower compartment between open and closed positions; and c) a vent panel having a plurality of holes formed therethrough and sized, shaped and/or configured to overlay said upwardly facing bottom surface of said lower compartment. 2) The pizza box of claim 1, wherein said lower compartment comprises: a) a front wall having a first edge hingedly connected to said bottom surface of said lower compartment, and an opposite second edge; b) first and second opposing sidewalls each having a first edge hingedly connected to said bottom surface of said lower compartment and opposite second edges; and c) a rear wall having a first edge hingedly connected to said lower surface and an opposite second edge. 3) The pizza box of claim 2, wherein said vent panel comprises a first edge that is hingedly connected to said second edge of said front wall of said lower compartment. 4) A blank for forming a pizza box, comprising: a) a vent panel section having a first edge; b) a lower compartment section having a second edge connected to said first edge of said vent panel, and a third edge positioned opposite said second edge; and c) a cover section having a fourth edge connected to said third edge of said lower compartment, d) wherein, said vent panel, said lower compartment, and said cover are all planar and adapted to extend in a common plane. 5) The blank according to claim 4, wherein said vent panel section further comprises a plurality of holes formed therethrough. 6) A blank for forming a plurality of pizza boxes, comprising: a) first and second vent panel sections each having a first edge; b) first and second lower compartment sections each having a second edge connected to said first edge of said vent panel, a third edge positioned opposite said second edge, and a fourth edge extending between said second and third edges, and a fifth edge positioned opposite said fourth edge and extending between said second and third edges; and c) first and second cover sections each having a sixth edge connected to said third edge of said lower compartment, a seventh edge extending perpendicularly outwardly from said sixth edge; d) wherein, said first and second vent panel sections, said first and second lower compartment section, and said first and second cover sections are all planar and adapted to extend in a common plane. 7) The blank according to claim 6, wherein said first and second vent panel sections each include a plurality of holes formed therethrough. 8) The blank according to claim 6, wherein said first and second lower compartment sections are attached to one another along their respective fourth edges. 9) The blank according to claim 7, wherein said first and second cover sections are attached to one another along their respective seventh edges. 